15 Extremely Underrated Films That Every Movie Buff Needs to See

There are so many films coming out at any given period that's it's impossible to keep track of them all. That's why we're always on the lookout for those diamonds in the rough, those films that speak to us and make us think "How have I never heard of this before?!" Reddit users recently shared their favorite picks for the most underrated movies of all time in an open thread, and we've compiled them here so you can cherry pick one or two (or 12) for your next movie night.

1. The Red Violin

A lush movie about the journey of a red violin from its birth in 17th century Italy to the day it falls into the hands of an expert appraiser (Samuel L. Jackson) in modern-day Montreal.

2. The Rundown

A bounty hunter (The Rock) goes to the Amazon to retrieve a millionaire's son (Seann William Scott) from a territory controlled by a maniacal treasure hunter (Christopher Walken) in this comical action-adventure film.

3. Pandorum

A terrifying sci-fi thriller in which two astronauts (Dennis Quaid and Ben Foster) wake up in an abandoned spacecraft with no idea of who they are or how they got there, and quickly realize they are not alone.

4. Stranger Than Fiction

A struggling writer (Emma Thompson) narrates the life of her main character (Will Ferrell) without realizing that he can hear everything she says and is actively trying to avoid the death she has planned for him in this metafictional drama.

5. Once We Were Warriors

A New Zealand drama about the struggles of an urban Māori family, based on Alan Duff's bestselling eponymous novel.

6. UHF

A vehicle for Weird Al Yankovic, who rejuvenates an ailing television station with his wacky and outrageous sense of humor.

7. Brick

A teenage sleuth (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) trying to solve his girlfriend's murder is led into a dangerous world of twisted high-school cliques in this noir thriller.

8. Layer Cake

Before he was Bond, Daniel Craig played a cocaine dealer trying to get away from the gangster life, but instead he finds himself sucked into a drug conspiracy in this British crime film.

9. A Goofy Movie

This may seem like an odd choice, but Redditors really praised the way the animated film explores fatherhood. The OP wrote, "Goofy just wants to be part of his son's life, but his son being a teenager is pushing him away and lying to him. But still all Goofy wants is to be a part of his life and not be shut out. It's easy to see Goofy's side and that Max isn't being fair. On the other hand though, everyone has been a teenager and understands how important becoming independent are and what those years of your life are like."

10. Goon

A classic underdog story about a misfit (Seann William Scott) that lands a spot on a minor-league hockey team and a chance for glory.

11. The Fall

A stunning fantasy in which a bedridden man tells a little girl in a hospital an epic tale of heroes and villains in exotic places, the stories slowly interweaving with his own sad tale.

12. Lucky Number Slevin

A case of mistaken identity lands one man (Josh Hartnett) in the middle of a war between two rival NYC crime bosses, The Rabbi (Ben Kingsley) and The Boss (Morgan Freeman).

13. Inside Man

A tense crime thriller about an elaborate bank heist that involves a hostage negotiator (Denzel Washington), an ingenious bank robber (Clive Owen), and a mysterious power broker (Jodie Foster) over a 24-hour period.

A Part of Hearst Digital Media
Bicycling participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.